2019 was filled with turbulence, both in the geopolitical sphere and the technological one. This created waves throughout the supply chain and trade industry. AAEI and Amber Road worked together on their 3rd Annual Trade Trends Report to determine how companies in the industry are using supply chain technology. Are companies focused on automating previously manual processes? Are they simply using technology to collect data? By interviewing over 100 supply chain professionals, we hope to answer these questions and allow other professionals in the industry to use this data as a benchmark or as a source of data to make informed decisions for their company.

Supply Chain 4.0, otherwise known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, has been at the forefront of the industry’s mind. With companies experiencing the backlash of the “Amazon Effect,” they are looking to technology to help them meet the 6 “Rs” of supply chain execution. The “Rs” are the right partner, with the right product, at the right price, in the right place, and right time with the right compliance. This is what companies who want to compete in evolving markets are focused on.

Do you know how Supply Chain 4.0 will affect your business? Are you familiar with the supply chain guiding principle about the ‘rights’ of supply chain execution? If you answered No to any of these questions, you should check out Talking Logistics’ recent video interview between Amber Road’s Director of Global Product Marketing, Gary Barraco, and Talking Logistics’ founder, Adrian Gonzalez. Adrian and Gary delve into the guiding principles that executives should use to help keep them a float and ahead in today’s evolving market. Gary not only delves into the reasons why the ‘Rights’ and ‘Mores’ are important, but he discusses how companies can overcome barriers to evolving their supply chain. Watch the video below to find out more about how your company can stay in the lead:

2018 is fading fast. Even though global trade and commerce has been lively all year, not all regions and industries are seeing a comparable benefit. US consumer spending continued to rise which inspired hope for companies in some industries, while the on-going tariff battles are causing other companies to make dramatic shifts in production and sourcing. As we look ahead to 2019, companies with global supply chains must remain vigilant with this unexpected mix of improvement and disruption.

Global Trade Management (GTM) has evolved from a collection of standalone supply chain and enterprise applications into an integrated, robust solution that ties them all together on a common platform. Just as supply chains have changed dramatically in the past decade to adapt to new global sourcing and production trends, companies that seek to stay on the forefront of GTM and supply chain management are embracing advances that give them an edge over the competition. But where should you start? And what does the future hold in store?

Jamie Bragg, the Executive Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer with Tailored Brands, sits down with CIO Talk Network in our Evolving to ONE Digital Supply Chain podcast. Bragg explains the importance of organizations adopting a single comprehensive approach to operating their global supply chains. To learn more about Bragg's advice, read the podcast's full transcript below:

Sanjog: Today most organizations are recognizing the value of going digital when it comes to a supply chain, but they introduce it only as a point solution to automate specific processes or functions. This is a fragmented and opportunistic approach that may be undermining the supply chain. The discussion here is to explore how organizations can define and adopt digital in one holistic approach to operating supply chain across the globe.

Most business decisions are determined by money, whether its revenue generated or potential savings. Due to increasing globalization in today’s markets, coupled with an unstable regulatory environment, global supply chains are becoming more complex than ever before. This has increased the difficulty of simple day-to-day operations, let alone optimizing costs. The current influx of multiple transportation routes and carriers, updated government regulations, and several other factors will continue to bring hardship unless a strong value chain is obtained.

As CFOs move beyond traditional accounting responsibilities to take on strategic roles in their organizations, many realize that they must do more to optimize their global supply chains. The solution? Implementing a digital model of the global supply chain to better share, process, and analyze information.

You may think your supply chain is digital, thanks to all those nifty tech tools you conduct business with like barcode scanners, robotics, and transportation management systems (TMS) - but is it really? These days, most supply chains use some sort of digital technology, and many best-in-class organizations are looking ahead to more advanced technologies. Their intention is to transform their supply chains to make them faster, smarter, more efficient, integrated, and agile.

In 2017, global trade made a major comeback across global economies, inspiring hope that the climate is ready to improve. Simultaneously, the complexity of conducting global trade and complying effectively with numerous and growing regulatory and licensing requirements has also boomed. As we flip the calendar to 2018, companies with global supply chains must remain vigil within this peculiar mix of improvement and distress.

Today, every business is a digital business and the impact of digital strategies on supply chain management are of particular importance. For businesses around the globe, 2018 will be shaped by the success rate of digital transformation efforts. Amber Road’s white paper, 6 Global Supply Chain Trends to Watch in 2018, outlines the top issues that your 2018 digital strategy should address.